New Details Emerge For PS4’s Infamous: Second Son

The June, 2013 issue of Game Informer has been revealed, and it’s chock-full of great information about everything PlayStation 4.

The cover of this issue is adorned with imagery from Infamous: Second Son, perhaps the most exciting first-party PlayStation 4 game we know to be in development, and Game Informer has a bunch of new details about the game worth sharing.

Second Son stars a 24-year old named Delsin Rowe, a character of Native American heritage described as “the artistic type with a chip on his shoulder.” Much like Cole MacGrath, the protagonist in Infamous and Infamous 2, Rowe learns of and is given his powers by happenstance. Conduits – those with special powers in the Infamous universe – are being transported by the government as the game begins, but after an accident derails the vehicle they’re in, Rowe “learns that he’s been a conduit all along” while dragging Conduit corpses from the mangled wreck.

Unlike Cole, who could famously manipulate electricity (and later ice and fire), young Delsin can manipulate smoke, a strange and mysterious power, but one that doesn’t necessarily reflect his entire range of would-be skills as you work your way through the game. And yes, the choice system that found a home with Infamous and Infamous 2 will be back in Second Son.

For the first time, an Infamous game takes place in a real city: Seattle.

Interestingly, by studying the Trophies earned in Infamous 2, Sucker Punch settled on the game's good ending as canon: Cole MacGrath has been killed. Even the timely lightning bolt seen at the end of Infamous 2’s good ending undoubtedly put in the game to give Sucker Punch a way out should they want MacGrath to live wasn’t taken advantage of. In a game that stresses choices, Sucker Punch chose one path.

Infamous: Second Son takes place seven years after Cole died, along with a vast majority of Conduits in the United States. The remaining Conduits, however, are now known as “Bioterrorists,” and Cole is remembered by a vast majority of the country’s populous as a bad guy. As such, these associated Bioterrorists with skills and powers similar to Cole are tracked by the Department of Unified Protection, and they’re called into Seattle, Washington – the city Infamous: Second Son takes place in – to deal with the aforementioned crash, the one that ignites Rowe’s innate powers as a Conduit, and one that unintentionally sets these Bioterrorists free. (And yes, this is the first time an Infamous game has taken place in a real city, as opposed to a fictional one based on the features of an actual metropolis.)

24-year old Delsin Rowe is the main character in Infamous: Second Son.

Delsin wages war on the Department of Unified Protection’s soldiers (known as DUP in the game) with his smoke powers, other powers yet to be revealed by the developer, and a chain-like melee weapon that seems to take the place of Cole’s Amp. Not surprisingly, Delsin’s smoke power is replenished by absorbing smoke, similar to Cole’s ability to harness electricity. However, it is noted that smoke is far rarer than electricity was in the previous two games in the series, meaning that a more thoughtful approach to combat will be required. Interestingly, smoke is absorbed by using the DualShock 4’s mysterious touch pad.

For much more on Infamous: Second Son -- as well as Killzone: Shadow Fall, DriveClub and Knack -- check out Game Informer’s June, 2013 issue.

Colin Moriarty is IGN’s Senior Editor. You can follow him on Twitter and IGN and learn just how sad the life of a New York Islanders and New York Jets fan can be.